Aardie's Express back and with lofty goals

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk

The Express is back, and her trainers have big plans.

After a sensational three-year-old season that saw her win eight of nine starts, Aardie's Express successfully negotiated yesterday's trials at Rangiora, with co-trainer Amanda Telfer saying the ultimate goal is the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, November 14.

"That's the plan, we think quite a lot of her and as long as she stays sound we think that's realistic," says co-trainer Amanda Telfer.

Yesterday was all part of that. After having all her race day starts in mobiles the four-year-old got her standing start ticket by getting away safely in her three-horse trial, and driven by Jonny Cox, she covered the 2600m in 3:25.8, the last 800 in 56.6.

"It's very nice to have her back," says Telfer, "she will need a couple of runs but she will benefit a lot from that."

Aardie's Express' last race day appearance was a five length romp in the Sires' Stakes Harness 7000 at Addington last September. It was her eighth win in nine starts, the only defeat being a second to Joe's Rock in the Nevele R Stud/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks Heat on February 25 2022 at Ascot Park.

Since her last win she's had 10 months off recovering from a fracture to the top of a cannon bone.

"We had been hoping to have her back at the trials before then but she got a bad foot abscess and went back to the water walker."

Telfer expects her star mare to be either back at the trials or to front up in a "suitable" race in the next ten days or so.

Then it'll be full steam ahead to races like the Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington in August where the winner automatically qualifies for the New Zealand Cup.